Index construction



July 2, 1968 c. s. AHLBERG 3,390,682

INDEX CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept. 24, 1965 M 52 KM gaflg/wg iiiiifii'- m my dew zzfzaw 3,390,682 INDEX CONSTRUTION Carl Stanley Ahlberg, Riinneapolis, Minn, assignor to Arthur Saint Inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 491M913,

Sept. 24, 1965. This application Mar. 14, 1967, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 129-16) ABSTRACT OF Til-IE DISCLGSURE A portable index construction including a case with close-packed cards therein with Slip sheets of hard paper therebetween to minimize frictional drag during withdrawal of individual cards and ear means on the cards adapted to cooperate with lug means in the case for preventing total withdrawal of the cards from the case.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 490,013, filed Sept. 24, 1965, now abandoned, entitled Index Construction.

T-his invention relates to a novel index assembly, and more particularly pertains to a card index, adapted to be carried on the person, which is durable and efiicient in operation.

Many index constructions have been developed in the past which are subject to one or more objections. Inasmuch as index constructions must possess readily viewable tabs, such tabs are normally in a continuously-exposed condition. If carried on the person, such tabs containing index letters, numbers or other indicia are soon bent and in time torn or otherwise mutilated from jostling within the pocket, so that the indicia are no longer legible or completely detached from the card.

Also, index constructions composed of close-packed cards in which individual cards may be selected and extended from the pack in which disposed are oftentimes ditficult to manipulate. Because of the large areas of mutual contact of an index card with adjacent cards straddling the same, an attempt to extricate a selected card from a pack oftentimes frictionally drags adjacent cards therewith, necessitating a further bothersome separation step.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved index construction employing a plurality of close-packed, tabbed index cards, in which the tabs are protected by an enveloping case when the index is not in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an index construction in which frictional pull between adjacent index cards in close-packed relation is substantially eliminated by means of interposed slip sheets, as will hereinafter be disclosed in greater detail.

It is another object of this invention to provide an index construction in which close-packed cards are retained in interlocked relationship with a paperboard case by means of projecting portions which may be integrally formed with the cards and case.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing.

and appended claims.

In one embodiment of a card index formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, a plurality of index cards are arranged in close-packed relationship having slip sheets of thin, hard paper interposed therebetween. The sheets minimize the frictional drag the cards would normally have on each other if in direct surfaceto-surface contact and relative movement between adjacent cards was attempted. Each card has a projecting index tab secured to one end portion thereof clearly 3,39%,682 Patented July 2, 1968 indicating by means of key indicia, such as letters of the alphabet, the type or category of information contained on the cards. The oppositely disposed ends of the cards are provided with laterally projecting tabs adapted to serve as stops.

The cards and interposed slip sheets are snugly received in an enveloping case having opposed main fa es of adequate dimensions to cover the cards including the projecting index tabs affixed thereto. The case has a closed end against which all cards may abut .at their lower ends while the tabs at the opposed ends are completely protected between the case faces. A central cutout in the lower end portion of the cover enables all of the cards to be pushed through the opposed open end of the case to .an extent whereby the affixed tabs may be readily viewed and manually engaged.

The tab of the desired card may be grasped and readily pulled from between the remaining close-packed cards. The interposed slip sheets prevent frictional pulling of the cards .adjacent to the one selected in the course of pulling the desired card.

The card may be pulled until the laterally projecting tabs on the lower end portion thereof engage inwardly projecting stop lugs cut from case portions adjacent the case open end. The cooperation between the card and case projecting portions assures retention of the cards to the case, as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now he made to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an index formed in accordance with this invention, depicted in a normal position of use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away, illustrating the relationship between the various components of the index construction of FIG. 1 when the same is adapted to be carried on a person or is in a position of non-use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the nested relationship of alternate index cards maintained in the index construction with doubled-up slip sheets in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an index card in assembled relationship with an enveloping folded slip sheet illustrating the size relationship between the card and slip sheet;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a paperboard blank member which may be employed for forming the case of the index construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view partly in section illustrating the relative disposition of outwardly extending ears of an index card and inwardly extending stop projections formed on the case of the index construction of FIG. 1; .and

FIG. 8 is a veiw similar to FIG. 7 and depicts the stop action effected when the two projecting portions of the card and case engage.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, an index construction 10 is illustrated which is of such size as to be conveniently carried in the pocket or purse of the user thereof. It is seen from FIG. 1 that the size of index 10 is such that it may be conveniently handled so that the desired information contained on cards, such as cards 12 illustrated in FIG. 2, may be readily viewed by merely pulling the desired card from an enveloping case 14.

The index construction 10 comprises a paperboard case 14 in which a plurality of close-packed cards 12 having desired information contained thereon is housed. By close-packed it is meant that the cards are not loosely disposed within the case so as to laterally wobble, but yet free enough to slidably move relative to the remaining 3 cards when a card is pulled endwise from the pack through open end 16 (see FIG. 1) of the case 14.

Case 14 may be formed from an integral paperboard blank, such as blank 14b illustrated in FIG. 5. The blank 14b comprises opposed main cover portions 20 and 22 which are connected by an edge portion 24, which defines the bottom edge of completed case 14 when the blank is folded along the parallel fold line 26.

lingedly connected to face or cover portion 20 of blank 14b by means of opposed side edge portions 30, are opposed locking flaps 28. The side edge portions are formed by inwardly bending flap portions 28 relative to cover portion 20 along parallel fold lines 32. An upper reinforcing fiap 34 is integrally formed with an upper edge 35 of cover 20 and is bent along edge 35 and adhesively secured to upper edge portion of cover 24; prior to folding the remaining portions of the blank relative to each other.

Oppositely disposed to reinforcing flap 34 is an interlocking flap 36 secured to the edge of cover portion 22. Interlocking flap 36 is folded relative to cover position 22 by means of fold line 38. It will be noted from FIG. 5 that lower corner portions of locking flaps 28 are cut out at 40 so as to define a semicircular opening when the flaps are folded into adjacent relationship. It will be further noted that adjacent end portions of the blank cover portions 20 and 22 have semicircular cutouts 42 formed therein which are interconnected by means of a cutout portion in the lower edge 24 of the blank 14b.

The blank 14b is folded to form the case 14 so that a plurality of cards 12 containing desired information thereon may be packed therein, and arranged for ready accessibility to the user. Each card 12 will possess a projecting tab 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, which will contain thereon the indicia, such as letters of the alphabet or numbers, which reveal the nature of the information contained on the card.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that five cards are employed in the illustrated embodiment 10 since five tabs 44 are illustrated containing letters of the first half of the alphabet on the sides of the tabs illustrated. The reverse sides of the illustrated tabs 44 will have disposed thereon the remaining letters of the alphabet. Consequently on the five cards 12 of the illustrated index construction 10 of the drawing, the alphabet is broken down into ten groups which appear on the opposed sides of the five cards. The number of cards is obviously presented by way of illustration only, and the cards may be increased or reduced in number, in accordance with the desired break-down to be effected by the index.

In the normal course of assembling the cards 12 within the case 14, every alternate card is first inserted within a double-folded slip sheet 46, most clearly seen in FIG. 3. The enveloped card will then have opposed surfaces thereof in engagement with opposed inner surfaces 46i of the slip sheet. Inasmuch as every alternate card is inserted within the folded slip sheet 46, cards straddling the slip sheet will engage outer surface portions 460.

It is the function of the slip sheets to prevent frictional drag of a manually-engaged index card 12 on adjacent cards when the engaged card is pulled from the closepacked cards contained within the case 14. Slip cards 46 are, therefore, preferably formed of thin, smooth sheets of very hard paper which reduce to a minimum the friction exerted between cards 12 and the inner or outer surfaces of the slip sheet.

It will be seen from FIG. 6, as well as from FIG. 4, that the slip sheets are of a greater width than the cards 12. The width of sheets 46 is great enough so that the sheets snugly engage opposed lateral edges 30 of index case 14 to thereby prevent relative movement between casing 14 and sheets 46 when cards 12 are pulled outwardly. Preferably the sheet width is wide enough so that the sheet buckles or wrinkles which results in a reduction of surface area contact between sheet 46 and card 12.

Such reduction in surface area contact reduces the frictional resistance and the cards may be pulled outwardly more easily. It will be understood that though the buckling of the sheet may result in the bight portion being buckled, this does not retard withdrawal of the card since the cards are initially pushed out of engagement with the bight portions manually at the central cutout 42 before cards 12 are pulled into the usable position.

In the normal course of assembling the cards within the blank 14b, a plurality of cards 12 having the desired information thereon is arranged in close-packed relationship with interposed leaves of the slip sheets 46, over face portion 20 of the blank 14b. The opposed blank locking flaps 28 are then inwardly folded to snugly retain the cards 12 between the opposed lateral edges 30 of the partially formed case. The appearance of the locking flaps 2815 after being inwardly folded is most apparent from FIG. 2 of the drawing.

Following the latter folding step, face portion 22 of case 14 is formed by folding along fold lines 26 so as to define bottom edge 24 of the completed case 14. In the course of the latter folding operation, interlocking flap 36 is inserted over the upper edges of the locking flaps 28. The latter interlocking action will retain all of the cards 12 within a unitary case 14 having a lower semicircular cutout 42, most clearly seen in FIG. 1, and an opposed open end 16. It will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that slip sheets 46 are cut out at 47 to provide access to the cards 12 through the case cutout 42.

It is apparent from FIG. 2 that the lengths of the faces 20 and 22 of the case 14 are such so that when all of the cards 12 abut against bottom edge 24 of the case, tab portions 44 thereof are completely housed between the main faces. Consequently, when carried in the pocket or purse, the tab portions 44 are not susceptible to bending or mutilation and are, therefore, completely protected at all times.

When it is desired to utilize the information contained on the cards within the case, the cards are pushed through cutout 42 in the manner indicated in FIG. 1, to extend the tabbed top portions thereof through open end 16 of the case. It is seen from FIG. 2 that following the fingerpushing operation, all of the tabs 44 will extend from the open end of the case, as illustrated in dotted lines. The card having the desired information thereon is then pulled from its relationship with the remaining cards and slip sheet, after which all of the cards may be returned to the protecting confines of the case 14.

In order to prevent complete withdrawal of the cards 12 from the case 14, each of the cards may have opposed lateral projecting ears 50 formed at its lower or inner end. As is most clearly seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is a function of the ears 50 to engage inwardly projecting stop lugs 52 cut from opposed lateral edges 30 of the blank 14b. The stop lugs 52 inwardly project and are each formed by transverse slits extending through the edges 32, as is most clearly seen from FIG. 5. The slitted portion is then depressed into the path of the cards 12. Bottom edges 51 of stop lugs 52 are therefore assured of engaging the outwardly projecting ears 50 of the cards 12 as they are axially moved outwardly through the open end 16 of the case 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the slip sheets 46 extend only to the stop lugs 52.

If the index assembly 16 is to have the cards 12 permanently secured within the case 14, opposed longitudinal edge portions of the locking flaps 28 and the face portion 22 which are arranged adjacent lateral edges 32 of the blank 14b may have adhesive applied thereto so that the latter portions are retained in a permanent relative position after the blank has been folded, as above described. Also, the inner edge of interlocking flap 36 may have adhesive applied thereto to further strengthen the case formed from the folded blank. The interlocking flap 36 may be dispensed with if the cover portion 22 and interlocking flaps 28 are adhesively secured together.

It is seen, therefore, that a novel index construction has been provided which is composed of a small number of simple paperboard parts which may be readily fabricated with a minimum of expense. The resulting index construction assures maximum life of the individual index cards while readily displaying the desired index information to the index user.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, while retaining certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable index construction comprising a plurality of close-packed cards, a case having a single open end and an oppositely disposed closed end, said cards being reciprocally movable in said open-ended case and longitudinally extensible from said open end, thin smooth sheets overlying opposed main surfaces of adjacent cards and disposed between each adjacent pair of said cards, said sheets snugly engaging opposed, internal edges of said case to prevent relative movement therebetween, each of said sheets being connected to an adjacent sheet along one bight edge with the bight portion thereof arranged adjacent one edge of said case, laterally extending ears projecting outwardly from said cards disposed adjacent the opposed, internal lateral edges of said case at the closed end thereof, and inwardly extending lugs formed from opposed lateral edge portions of said case adjacent the open end thereof comprising a stop in the normal path of the laterally extending ears projecting from said cards when said cards are-moved outwardly through said open end in the extended position, said cards having index portions adjacent said open end and completely contained within said case in the retracted position, said case and sheets having aligned cutouts formed therein in said ends opposite said open end whereby said cards are engageable through said cutouts and movable to expose said index portions adjacent said open end.

2. The index construction of claim 1 in which said smooth sheets have a width slightly greater than that of the interior of said case whereby said sheets are buckled providing reduced areas of contact with the adjacent cards.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,971 5/1907 Thomas 40--65 1,291,281 1/1919 Upson. 1,841,652 1/1932 Tollefsen 129-46 2,228,403 1/ 1941 Ross 40-65 X 2,431,535 11/1947 Bergstrom. 2,756,931 7/ 1956 Drillick.

FOREIGN PATENTS 527,769 6/ 1931 Germany. 328,596 4/1930 Great Britain.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

